Bachmann Says Pawlenty Is Presidential

By Connor Simpson

The fighting Minnesotans just never stop. Michele Bachmann fired back at her arch nemesis Tim Pawlenty Sunday. After Pawlenty subtly hinted she was unfit to serve because of her migraines, the ball was left in her court to respond. A spokesman for Bachmann compared Pawlenty's policies to President Obama's in a statement, Politico reports. She said there is "very little difference" between Pawlenty and Obama's policies, and that they agree on "unconstitutional healthcare mandates, climate change regulations, and Wall Street bailouts, there's very little daylight, indeed, between Governor Pawlenty's record and the Obama administration's policies." The rep also took Pawlenty to task over the amount of debt he accrued during his time as governor of Minnesota, and for saying "the era of small government is over" in 2006.

Pawlenty and Bachmann have been jockeying for position leading up to the Ames Straw Poll in Iowa. The Los Angeles Timesreports Pawlenty took some shots at Bachmann recently on CNN:

"I really doubt … that the nation will or should put somebody into the Oval Office as president of the United States and commander in chief who lacks substantial executive experience running a large enterprise in or out of government," Pawlenty told CNN recently. "… There hasn't been somebody who went from the U.S. House of Representatives to the presidency I think in over 100 years. And there's a reason for that.

Bachmann's spokesman also said her boss "has a lifetime record of success and action in the real world. Real-world actions speak louder than his words as a career politician." As the Times points out, Bachmann "worked her way through school, worked as a tax lawyer, is fighting Obama's healthcare law and is a leader of the 'tea party' movement."

The Times also has a response from the Pawlenty camp:

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"When Gov. Pawlenty was scoring conservative victories to cut spending, pass market-based healthcare reform, and transform a Supreme court from liberal to conservative, and was elected twice in a very blue state, Congresswoman Bachmann was giving speeches and offering failed amendments, all while struggling mightily to hold onto the most Republican House seat in the state.

Politico is also reporting the Pawlenty camp is planning on responding to the policy allegations in depth on Monday. And so it continues until only one remains.